* American detained in Costa Rica for allegedly carrying heroin SAN
JOSE, March 4 (AFP) In their largest drug bust to date, Costa
Rica police seized six kilograms (7.2 pounds) of heroin and
arrested an American citizen, police said Tuesday.

In their largest drug bust to date, Costa Rica police seized six
kilograms of heroin and arrested an American citizen,
police said Tuesday. Police said Jean Morales, 23,
allegedly arrived from Panama with the drug hidden in her
luggage. [AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE, PAY PER VIEW, 52 words,
$1.00]

Pakistani troops assist in antinarcotics drive ISLAMABAD, March 5
(AFP) Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has ordered deployment
of troops in aid of agencies charged with controlling drug
trafficking, an aide said Wednesday.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has ordered deployment of troops
in aid of agencies charged with controlling drug trafficking,
an aide said Wednesday. [AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE, PAY PER VIEW,
426 words, $1.00]

Increase seen in number of US children smoking marijuana NEW YORK,
March 4 (AFP) The number of American children aged between nine and
12 who smoke marijuana doubled last year from 1995, according to a
report published Tuesday.

The number of American children aged between nine and 12 who smoke
marijuana doubled last year from 1995, according to a report
published Tuesday. [AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE, PAY PER VIEW, 123
words, $1.00]

MALAWI/ YOUTHS TURNING TO ALCOHOL AND DRUGS

Cannabis and alcohol abuse are increasing significantly among young
people in Malawi unable to find a place in secondary school. On
top of this, the country is becoming a cannabis export center.
[Inter Press Service, PREMIUM, 569 words]

Sharif calls on army to curb drug, weapons trafficking

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has given the army the job of curbing
narcotics and weapons smuggling, a military spokesman said
Thursday. [Associated Press, PREMIUM, 235 words]

France seizes 2.5 tonnes of cannabis from Spain

French customs said on Thursday they had seized more than 2.5 tonnes
of cannabis resin in two separate hauls in trucks driving in
from Spain. [Reuters, PAY PER VIEW, 89 words, $1.00]

Shanghai Authorities Seize Heroin in International Mail

Shanghai Customs officers have recently seized 4.6 grams of heroin in
an express mail parcel being mailed to Japan. The parcel was
sent by a person using an assumed name and is still under
investigation. [XINHUA, BASIC, 84 words]

Mexico under US microscope on drug fight/ Albright (ADDS US drug
czar in Mexico; State officials touring Colombian jails)

The United States is closely monitoring Mexico's drugfighting
efforts, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Wednesday.
"They are clearly under a very close microscope on this," she
said. [AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE, PAY PER VIEW, 356 words, $1.00]

Burma seizes 56 kilos of heroin near China border

Burmese antinarcotics squads seized 56 kg of heroin in Muse, in
northeast Burma near the border with China, the stateowned
Myanmar News Agency reported on Thursday. [Reuters, PAY PER
VIEW, 88 words, $1.00]

Turkmen police confiscate 16 tons of drugs

Turkmenistan's police confiscated more than 16 tons of hashish in the
Central Asian nation in February, a news agency said Thursday.
[Associated Press, PREMIUM, 92 words]

New Gingrich Distances Himself from 1981 Defense of Marijuana
Treatment

By Paul Rogers KnightRidder/Tribune Business News SAN JOSE,
Calif.Mar. 6Fifteen years before California and Arizona
voters passed ballot measures to allow medical use of
marijuana, a junior lawmaker from Georgia already was
sponsoring a broader national medical marijuana bill ... [San
Jose Mercury News, PAY PER VIEW, 1025 words, $1.00]

Officials seize dlrs 1 million worth of cocaine aboard commuter
plane

Officials in St. Thomas seized dlrs 1 million worth of cocaine stashed
in the cargo hold of a Delta Airlines commuter plane, police
said. [Associated Press, PREMIUM, 110 words]

Spain/ Eight tonnes of hashish seized on board sailing ship

Spanish police said Wednesday they had seized eight tonnes of hashish
on board a sailing ship off the coast of Cartagena, southern
Spain. [AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE, PAY PER VIEW, 163 words, $1.00]

Colombia Says Drug Move is Not AntiU.S.

Colombia has quietly suspended aerial spraying of illicit drug crops,
but top officials stressed the move was not a reprisal for the
U.S. decision to leave the country on a drugs blacklist.
[Reuters, PAY PER VIEW, 324 words, $1.00]

Mexico says Gulf drugs leader faces new charges

Mexican authorities said on Thursday that Gulf drug cartel leader
Oscar Malherbe de Leon, who was arrested last week, would face
new charges after revealing one of his pseudonyms. [Reuters,
PAY PER VIEW, 247 words, $1.00]

Report shows that more preteens are trying drugs

More children ages 912 are experimenting with drugs, and fewer of
them believe drugs are harmful, shows a study released Tuesday.
``Drugs can no longer be regarded as a problem among teenagers
only. [USA TODAY, PAY PER VIEW, 235 words, $1.00]

Colombia Suspends Drug Program

Colombia is temporarily suspending its drug crop eradication program,
the government announced Wednesday in a direct response to
Washington's decision decertifying it as an ally in the war on
drugs. [Associated Press, PREMIUM, 615 words]

U.S. ambassador gives Jersey reward for arresting drugs barons

U.S. ambassador to Britain Adm. William Crowe on Thursday presented
police and customs on this Channel island with a 1
millionpound award for helping to arrest an American drug
smuggler. [Associated Press, PREMIUM, 271 words]

Japan Worries About Trendy Drugs

Kinya Kuriyama sits amid the psychedelic posters in his
incensescented office and proudly pours the contents of a
mushroomshaped bottle into the palm of his hand. [Associated
Press, PREMIUM, 674 words]